Sailor Sophie is Thames Valley’s finest

Wokingham sailor Sophie Hamilton is to pick up one of youth sailing’s most prestigious awards in next month, the RYA Thames Valley Region Young Sailor of the Year Award 2009, in recognition of her achievements.

Wokingham sailor Sophie Hamilton is to pick up one of youth sailing’s most prestigious awards in next month, the RYA Thames Valley Region Young Sailor of the Year Award 2009, in recognition of her achievements.

Sophie, 15, was one of just five sailors selected to represent GB at the Optimist World Championships 2009 in Brazil, seeing off the challenges of 100 other top young sailers during a gruelling set of trials.

Sophie, who is a member of Burghfield Sailing Club, has several issues that make her achievement all the more remarkable.

She is dyspraxic and has various vision problems, therefore she does not have much depth perception and has reduced peripheral vision.

She has, however, found ways to compensate for this.

“I’m very happy to have been selected, and I’m looking forward to going to the awards ceremony,” she said.

“It involved lots of hard work, out practicing every weekend, but I really enjoyed it.”

Sophie’s twin sister, Issy, also had a successful year and was selected to represent GB at the European Championships in Slovenia.

Only last month Sophie was visited by Olympic champion Paul Goodison at Burghfield to present her with the James Acton Trophy on behalf of the Royal Yachting Association.

The award was received for her considerable success in racing in Optimists in 2009 which culminated in her being selected to represent GB at the World Championships and now the Thames Valley young sailer award.

Sophie will receive that trophy on Saturday, January 9 at the Tullet Prebon London International Boat Show, where she will join 12 other RYA Regional Award winners from all over the UK.

Rod Carr OBE, chief executive, RYA said: “Winning an RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year Award is a fantastic achievement.

“Sailing and Powerboating are great sports for young people which are both mentally and physically challenging.

“The Young Sailor of the Year award highlights just how many youngsters are out enjoying the sport and achieving great things, and I am delighted that this is recognised through the award.”